Tour De France 2021 with spoilers

[Milzy]

Worrying?

De Gendt: It's clear that the general level is just much higher at the Tour de France | Cyclingnews

Possibly, but I hope not.

He’s right, they are on a new kind of program. Next level methods. The sports scientists & coaches can’t believe the numbers.

 

[Adam4868]

Or could it be he's just a class act....if I thought every great ride,stage win,GT win was dodgy I'd give up watching.I mean whats happened to Jumbo,Ineos this year ? Maybe it's out with the old and in with the new.
Or take a look at past stages and rides and realise that Pogi isn't actually breaking any records as such...just riding smart,he's fearless is that not what we wanted.Its not like we haven't seen how good he is already.Tirreno,Liege etc.
Maybe start a separate thread if anyone wants to,its not the right one for endless doubting 🙄

 

[Adam4868]

Nibali says he's pulling out on second rest day to concentrate on getting ready for Olympics.

 

[rich p]

Nibali says he's pulling out on second rest day to concentrate on getting ready for Olympics.

Which event is hoping to do? Not cycling for sure...

 

[yello]

if I thought every great ride,stage win,GT win was dodgy I'd give up watching.

I have a slightly different take but it's the same in as much as I don't think about it either. If someone's doping then so be it. I don't support it, I don't want it and I'm not naive about it - but I don't think about it during a race. I just watch and (hopefully) enjoy the performances.

I'm looking forward to today; to see who starts and how everyone looks. But, like Cavendish, I don't want to talk about records. I don't want to get my hopes up or jinx it! Suffice it to say that it's a day for the sprinters... or a committed breakaway. The weather forecast is pretty shitty (winds and rain) so that could be a factor.

 

[DCLane]

A case in point is Chris Boardman - a specialist time trialist and a very poor TdF climber. However, he was the Britsih hill climb champion for 4 years in succession - the best amateur the UK had to offer. It reinforces the idea that a poor TdF climber would out-perform pretty much anyone else.

The British national hillclimb is only short though - 2019's was exceptional at 3 miles, 2020's was 650m and this year's is 1.5km of Winnat's Pass - so they're usually short enough for a sprinter to do well.

Whereas French climbs tend to be less steep and longer.

 

[hoopdriver]

Which event is hoping to do? Not cycling for sure...

Hammer throw

 

[Martinsnos]

Much as there has been an exceptional performance, I wonder how many have underperformed because of Covid (not necessarily the having but the whole pandemic situation)?
Carapaz said his numbers were good but there may be others where that isn’t the case. Apart from all the interruptions to training/racing, there has been a huge amount of stress generally that could really impact performance and other factors like change of mindsets bought on by the pandemic.

 

[matticus]

Much as there has been an exceptional performance, I wonder how many have underperformed because of Covid (not necessarily the having but the whole pandemic situation)?
Carapaz said his numbers were good but there may be others where that isn’t the case. Apart from all the interruptions to training/racing, there has been a huge amount of stress generally that could really impact performance and other factors like change of mindsets bought on by the pandemic.

I do think the mental factor has been siginificant. Unfortunately we can never measure it.
I would imagine the youngsters are least affected - especially if no dependants. They are worrying less about the world changing, worrying less about their family, and dealing better with changes in routine/logistics (many won't have settled into any routine since turning pro!).

Read the blog post from Pog and his girlfriend before they set off for France (to separate races) around June 2020 - not a care in the world. I am jealous, but pleased for them!

 

[matticus]

The British national hillclimb is only short though - 2019's was exceptional at 3 miles, 2020's was 650m and this year's is 1.5km of Winnat's Pass - so they're usually short enough for a sprinter to do well.

Boardman was no sprinter!

;-)

 

[Flick of the Elbow]

When talking of Cav we’re not to mention Merckx.
When talking of Pogacar we’re not to mention you know who

 

[Ming the Merciless]

I've always thought the time limits were a bit mean. But I suppose, sport being what it is, that if they extended the limit there'd still be a big group finishing exactly on the limit, saving energy.

That would be the full value audax group with their jam butties

 

[Adam4868]

Suffice it to say that it's a day for the sprinters... or a committed breakaway. The weather forecast is pretty shitty (winds and rain) so that could be a factor.

I've gone with Pogi....e/w at 400/1....well he is unbelievable isn't he 🙄

 

[Adam4868]

Much as there has been an exceptional performance, I wonder how many have underperformed because of Covid (not necessarily the having but the whole pandemic situation)?
Carapaz said his numbers were good but there may be others where that isn’t the case. Apart from all the interruptions to training/racing, there has been a huge amount of stress generally that could really impact performance and other factors like change of mindsets bought on by the pandemic.

If your really into numbers/watts there all out there.I don't think it's anything to do with underperforming,more the stress/crashes of the first week.Thats whats been zapping a lot of riders energy.Maybe quite a few will ride themselves into better fitness in the coming weeks....or maybe Pog will do a Yates and blow up in the third week ! Although I wouldn't like to bet on that.

 

[Martinsnos]

If your really into numbers/watts there all out there.I don't think it's anything to do with underperforming,more the stress/crashes of the first week.Thats whats been zapping a lot of riders energy.Maybe quite a few will ride themselves into better fitness in the coming weeks....or maybe Pog will do a Yates and blow up in the third week ! Although I wouldn't like to bet on that.

Thanks. I guess the decents are where some riders might question ‘is it worth it?’ and those ‘stats’ might be less hard to quantify.